Files
2026-07-06 17:27:20 -04:00

14 KiB
Raw Permalink Blame History

type, title, description, jurisdiction, legislature, session, identifier, citation, classification, subjects, status, primary_sponsors, version_count, action_count, vote_count, first_action, last_action, source, source_identifier, source_url, source_hash, vintage, source_snapshot, retrieved_at, confidence, tags
type title description jurisdiction legislature session identifier citation classification subjects status primary_sponsors version_count action_count vote_count first_action last_action source source_identifier source_url source_hash vintage source_snapshot retrieved_at confidence tags
Bill Watershed development commissions. Provides that the executives of one or more counties may adopt ordinances designating their counties as members of a proposed watershed development commission and that the proposed watershed development commission is established as a legal entity with the counties as its members if it is recognized by the natural resources commission. Allows a watershed development commission to be established for certain flood damage reduction, drainage, storm water management, recreation, and water infrastructure purposes, but provides that "water infrastructure purposes" excludes any drinking water project in a county or municipality. Requires the natural resources commission, in deciding whether to recognize a proposed watershed development commission, to answer certain questions. Provides that a nonmember county may become a member of an established watershed development commission if its membership is accepted by the member counties and recognized by the natural resources commission. Requires the department of natural resources (department), with the approval of the natural resources commission, to certify the area of a member county that is within a watershed development commission's designated watershed. Provides that a watershed development commission may also have water quality purposes if its board develops a water quality improvement plan that is approved by the natural resources commission. Specifies that a water quality purpose, goal, project, or interstate agreement does not convey water quality regulatory authority to a watershed development commission. Provides for a watershed development commission to be governed by a board that includes: (1) the director of the department or the director's designee; (2) the county surveyor of each county that is a member of the commission and is entitled to membership on the board; (3) an individual other than the county surveyor representing each county that is a member of the commission and is entitled to membership on the board; and (4) either: (A) one individual appointed to represent each second class city that is located in a participating county and within the designated watershed of the watershed development commission; or (B) if a participating county does not include a second class city that is located within the designated watershed of the watershed development commission, one individual appointed to represent the municipality that has the largest population of all municipalities that are located in the participating county and within the designated watershed of the watershed development commission. Requires a watershed development commission to develop a flood damage reduction and drainage plan for its designated watershed. Grants a watershed development commission exclusive authority to perform drainage and flood damage reduction activities within the channel of the river that is the surface water outlet of its designated watershed. Authorizes a watershed development commission to enter into an interlocal cooperation agreement with an existing local governmental authority to apportion flood damage reduction authority and financial support between the two entities. Provides for the funding of a watershed development commission through an annual special assessment that may be imposed against each taxable parcel of real property located: (1) in a member county; and (2) within the designated watershed of the watershed development commission. Establishes maximum assessment levels and allows the board of a watershed development commission to reduce the special assessment to lower levels. Authorizes a member county to adopt any of three alternative methods of funding the watershed development commission. Prohibits the use of money collected from a special assessment for highway bridge repairs or reconstruction. Authorizes a watershed development commission to give preference to an Indiana business over an out-of-state business in contracting for public works. Establishes a procedure under which the Maumee River basin commission, the St. Joseph River basin commission, or the Upper Wabash River basin commission may be transformed into a watershed development commission. Provides that if the St. Joseph River basin commission is transformed into a watershed development commission, the members of the St. Joseph River basin commission become the first members of the St. Joseph River watershed development commission's advisory committee. us/states/in Indiana General Assembly 2023 HB 1639 Indiana HB 1639 (2023)
bill
FLOOD CONTROL; FLOODWAYS
NATURAL RESOURCES
State Department of
RIVERS AND STREAMS
WATER
Availability and Quality of Drinking Water
WATER
Pollution
WATERSHED
enacted
Mike Aylesworth
Susan Glick
8 36 1 2023-01-19 2023-05-04 openstates ocd-bill/9a8499a1-916a-40f3-b7f0-1ca991940441 http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/house/1639 355509e51942ae5598550aedf95c1854e79aedb575ad25cc6808410aa5718a4a 2026-07-01 https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump 2026-07-06 reported
legislation
bill
us-in

Indiana HB 1639 (2023) — Watershed development commissions.

Provides that the executives of one or more counties may adopt ordinances designating their counties as members of a proposed watershed development commission and that the proposed watershed development commission is established as a legal entity with the counties as its members if it is recognized by the natural resources commission. Allows a watershed development commission to be established for certain flood damage reduction, drainage, storm water management, recreation, and water infrastructure purposes, but provides that "water infrastructure purposes" excludes any drinking water project in a county or municipality. Requires the natural resources commission, in deciding whether to recognize a proposed watershed development commission, to answer certain questions. Provides that a nonmember county may become a member of an established watershed development commission if its membership is accepted by the member counties and recognized by the natural resources commission. Requires the department of natural resources (department), with the approval of the natural resources commission, to certify the area of a member county that is within a watershed development commission's designated watershed. Provides that a watershed development commission may also have water quality purposes if its board develops a water quality improvement plan that is approved by the natural resources commission. Specifies that a water quality purpose, goal, project, or interstate agreement does not convey water quality regulatory authority to a watershed development commission. Provides for a watershed development commission to be governed by a board that includes: (1) the director of the department or the director's designee; (2) the county surveyor of each county that is a member of the commission and is entitled to membership on the board; (3) an individual other than the county surveyor representing each county that is a member of the commission and is entitled to membership on the board; and (4) either: (A) one individual appointed to represent each second class city that is located in a participating county and within the designated watershed of the watershed development commission; or (B) if a participating county does not include a second class city that is located within the designated watershed of the watershed development commission, one individual appointed to represent the municipality that has the largest population of all municipalities that are located in the participating county and within the designated watershed of the watershed development commission. Requires a watershed development commission to develop a flood damage reduction and drainage plan for its designated watershed. Grants a watershed development commission exclusive authority to perform drainage and flood damage reduction activities within the channel of the river that is the surface water outlet of its designated watershed. Authorizes a watershed development commission to enter into an interlocal cooperation agreement with an existing local governmental authority to apportion flood damage reduction authority and financial support between the two entities. Provides for the funding of a watershed development commission through an annual special assessment that may be imposed against each taxable parcel of real property located: (1) in a member county; and (2) within the designated watershed of the watershed development commission. Establishes maximum assessment levels and allows the board of a watershed development commission to reduce the special assessment to lower levels. Authorizes a member county to adopt any of three alternative methods of funding the watershed development commission. Prohibits the use of money collected from a special assessment for highway bridge repairs or reconstruction. Authorizes a watershed development commission to give preference to an Indiana business over an out-of-state business in contracting for public works. Establishes a procedure under which the Maumee River basin commission, the St. Joseph River basin commission, or the Upper Wabash River basin commission may be transformed into a watershed development commission. Provides that if the St. Joseph River basin commission is transformed into a watershed development commission, the members of the St. Joseph River basin commission become the first members of the St. Joseph River watershed development commission's advisory committee.

Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

  1. Engrossed House Bill (H) (committee substitute) — source
  2. Engrossed House Bill (S) (committee substitute) — source
  3. Enrolled House Bill (H) (committee substitute) — source
  4. House Bill (H) (committee substitute) — source
  5. House Bill (H) (committee substitute) — source
  6. House Bill (S) (committee substitute) — source
  7. House Bill (S) (committee substitute) — source
  8. Introduced House Bill (H) (committee substitute) — source

Votes

  • HB 1639 - Glick - 3rd Reading — 471 (pass) · upper

Sponsors

  • Mike Aylesworth — primary (person)
  • Susan Glick — primary (person)
  • Carey Hamilton — coauthor (person)
  • Cindy Ledbetter — coauthor (person)
  • David Abbott — coauthor (person)
  • Jean Breaux — cosponsor (person)

Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

  • 2023-01-19 Coauthored by Representatives Ledbetter, Hamilton, Abbott
  • 2023-01-19 Authored by Representative Aylesworth
  • 2023-01-19 First reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources reading-1, referral-committee
  • 2023-02-02 Committee report: amend do pass, adopted committee-passage
  • 2023-02-02 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 127
  • 2023-02-14 Committee report: do pass, adopted committee-passage
  • 2023-02-16 Amendment #1 (Dvorak) prevailed; voice vote amendment-passage
  • 2023-02-16 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed reading-2
  • 2023-02-20 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 158: yeas 97, nays 0 passage, reading-3, reading-3
  • 2023-02-20 Senate sponsor: Senator Glick
  • 2023-02-21 Referred to the Senate referral
  • 2023-03-01 First reading: referred to Committee on Natural Resources reading-1, referral-committee
  • 2023-03-14 Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy committee-passage, referral-committee
  • 2023-03-14 Senator Breaux added as cosponsor
  • 2023-04-11 Committee report: amend do pass, adopted committee-passage
  • 2023-04-13 Amendment #1 (Glick) prevailed; voice vote amendment-passage
  • 2023-04-13 Amendment #2 (Glick) prevailed; voice vote amendment-passage
  • 2023-04-13 Amendment #4 (Glick) prevailed; voice vote amendment-passage
  • 2023-04-13 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed reading-2
  • 2023-04-17 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 427: yeas 47, nays 1 passage, reading-3, reading-3
  • 2023-04-18 Returned to the House with amendments receipt
  • 2023-04-18 Motion to dissent filed filing
  • 2023-04-18 House dissented from Senate amendments
  • 2023-04-18 House conferees appointed: Aylesworth and Hamilton
  • 2023-04-18 House advisors appointed: Ledbetter, Abbott and Boy
  • 2023-04-24 Senate conferees appointed: Glick and Breaux
  • 2023-04-24 Senate advisors appointed: Alexander and Qaddoura
  • 2023-04-26 CCR # 1 filed in the House filing
  • 2023-04-26 CCR # 1 filed in the Senate filing
  • 2023-04-27 Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 528: yeas 95, nays 0
  • 2023-04-27 Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 514: yeas 44, nays 5
  • 2023-04-28 Signed by the President of the Senate passage
  • 2023-04-28 Signed by the President Pro Tempore passage
  • 2023-05-01 Signed by the Speaker passage
  • 2023-05-04 Signed by the Governor executive-signature
  • 2023-05-04 Public Law 251 became-law

Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot 2026-07-01; origin ocd-bill/9a8499a1-916a-40f3-b7f0-1ca991940441. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Indiana legislature records).